Sarah Paulson on Living Apart and Not Marrying Holland Taylor

Some couples live together, raise kids, and merge their bank accounts. Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor have spent more than a decade building something that looks different — and they insist it works better. Here’s what they’ve actually said about living apart, skipping marriage, and why a 31-year age gap barely registers in their relationship.

Born: December 17, 1974 (Tampa, Florida) ·
Occupation: Actress ·
Partner: Holland Taylor ·
Children: None ·
Notable Awards: Primetime Emmy Award

The table below lays out the key biographical details that frame Paulson’s career and personal life.

Why don’t Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson live together?

The answer, according to both women, is simple: they don’t want to. In a May 2024 interview, Paulson explained that they each own a house in Los Angeles and take turns staying at each other’s place every few days (Harper’s Bazaar (fashion magazine)). Paulson has said the reason their relationship works is precisely because they do not live under the same roof (People (celebrity news)).

The implication: For a couple that has been together for nearly a decade, the choice to live apart hasn’t weakened their bond. It’s reinforced it.

Does Sarah Paulson have a child?

No. Sarah Paulson does not have any biological or adopted children. Her partner, Holland Taylor, also has no children. Neither has publicly expressed a desire to become a parent. Paulson has focused on her acting career, while Taylor, now in her 80s, raised none during her earlier years.

Does Holland Taylor have any children?

Holland Taylor has no children. The actress, who is 81, has never been married and has not had children from any of her past relationships (Elle (women’s lifestyle magazine)).

The pattern: Both women have deliberately shaped lives without the conventional family structure. That shared independence may be exactly what drew them together.

Is Sarah Paulson LGBTQ?

Sarah Paulson is in a same-sex relationship with Holland Taylor. She has not publicly assigned herself a specific label, but she is widely regarded as part of the LGBTQ community. In a 2016 New York Times interview she said, “What I can say absolutely is that I am in love, and that person happens to be Holland Taylor” (Harper’s Bazaar (fashion magazine)).

Were Diane Keaton and Sarah Paulson friends?

Yes, Sarah Paulson has a well-known friendship with Diane Keaton. They co-starred in the 2015 film The Family Fang. However, the friendship has no bearing on Paulson’s sexuality — it’s a professional and personal bond that predates her public relationship with Taylor.

What this means: Paulson’s identity is most accurately described by her actions and statements, not a label. The public’s curiosity about her friendship with Keaton reflects a broader tendency to seek tidy explanations for complex personal lives.

What is the age gap between Sarah Paulson and her wife?

The age difference is 31 years. Paulson was born December 17, 1974; Taylor was born January 14, 1943 (Elle (women’s lifestyle magazine)). Taylor acknowledged the gap early on, telling a radio interviewer in November 2015 that there is “a very big age difference” between them. Both women have said the number has never been an issue in their relationship. Paulson called Taylor “probably the most exquisitely beautiful woman” she had ever seen (Elle).

The trade-off: The public fixates on 31 years; the couple ignores it entirely.

Why won’t Holland Taylor marry Sarah Paulson?

Because they don’t want to. Holland Taylor told Page Six in 2021: “We’re not marrying. It’s just not our thing” (People (celebrity news)). Paulson has echoed the sentiment, citing practical reasons and a lack of personal interest in the institution. In the same interview, Taylor described the relationship as her first “deeply committed relationship,” suggesting that marriage isn’t a prerequisite for seriousness (People (celebrity news)).

The implication: The question assumes marriage is the natural end point for every couple. Paulson and Taylor are proof that commitment can look like separate houses, shared time, and no ring.

What they’ve said in their own words

“What I can say absolutely is that I am in love, and that person happens to be Holland Taylor.”

Sarah Paulson, Harper’s Bazaar (fashion magazine)

“We’re not marrying. It’s just not our thing.”

Holland Taylor, People (celebrity news)

“I think the reason our relationship works is that we don’t live in the same house.”

Sarah Paulson, People

“It’s my first deeply committed relationship.”

Holland Taylor, in a 2015 WNYC appearance (via People)

Frequently asked questions

For fans and skeptics alike, the Paulson-Taylor relationship challenges the assumption that love follows a script. The takeaway isn’t that separate living or skipping marriage is the secret — it’s that Paulson and Taylor have consciously chosen what works for them, not what’s expected. That conscious choice has allowed the couple to build a partnership that lasts, on their own terms.

For more profiles of actors with unconventional career paths and personal lives, see Jane Lynch: Career, Hearing, Sobriety & Down Syndrome Advocacy and Kate Mara Movies and TV Shows: Full List and Roles.